(Image source from: Ndtv.com)
Karnataka lawmaker Prajwal Revanna, who was recently accused of forcing women into sexual acts that were then filmed, was arrested upon his arrival at Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport. The Janata Dal-Secular leader, who had been on a Lufthansa flight from Germany, was taken into custody by the police team investigating the charges against him. Authorities revealed that Revanna had twice before cancelled his flights home. Home Minister G Parameshwara stated that the special investigation team (SIT) will follow due process and ensure justice, adding that he hopes Revanna will cooperate. Revanna's mobile phone, from which voice samples will be analyzed, and his luggage were seized. He has been taken to Bowring Hospital for medical tests, after which the SIT chief will question him.
The location where the alleged sexual offenses occurred has become a focus of the investigation, as authorities aim to reconstruct the sequence of events. Meanwhile, a specialized court in Bengaluru has rejected a request for anticipatory bail. In a video statement released on X on Monday, Revanna apologized to his parents, stating that he was in a state of depression due to political rivals' attacks on the sexual assault charges. He vowed to appear before the police team on May 31 and pledged to cooperate to the best of his abilities, expressing that he has the blessings of God. This message came after a 'warning' from his grandfather and JDS patriarch HD Deve Gowda, who urged him to return to India and surrender, or "face your family's anger". Revanna is also the nephew of former Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, who issued similar warnings. Furthermore, Revanna is the outgoing Hassan Lok Sabha MP, having won this seat in 2019 and been re-nominated for the 2024 election with support from the JDS' new ally, the Bharatiya Janata Party. The BJP, however, has distanced itself from Revanna and the ongoing investigation, with its state unit boss, S Prakash, stating that the party has no involvement with the videos and no comments to make.
(Video Source: Deccan Herald)
The party has faced internal scrutiny after its leader, Sharangouda Kandkur, cautioned that these accusations, if revealed publicly, could cause embarrassment for the organization. The party now must address and manage this internal criticism that has surfaced. On April 27, just six days after the claims surfaced and the day after the election in Hassan, Revanna boarded a flight to Munich using his diplomatic passport. The same day, he posted a statement on X, simply saying "the truth will soon prevail" without mentioning the charges. A day later, the ruling Congress party formed a special police team based on complaints from the state's Women's Commission, and the first case was filed - a week after the videos emerged and Revanna fled, igniting a political clash with the Congress and BJP blaming each other for his escape.
Additionally, a police case has been filed against his father, HD Revanna, for allegedly abducting a woman who claimed to have been raped by both men. The father, a former MLA and Public Works Department Minister, was granted bail in the kidnapping case on May 14 and the sexual assault case last week. On May 1, the Congress and BJP escalated their bickering over Revanna, with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah writing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and requesting the cancellation of Revanna's diplomatic passport. After the investigating police team submitted a similar request to the Ministry of External Affairs, a separate dispute arose regarding the passport cancellation requests. The Congress party accused the BJP of delaying the process to shield Revanna. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar responded by stating that his office had only received the request on May 21 and acted on it immediately on May 23, as they must follow a specific procedure. The External Affairs Ministry spokesperson confirmed on Thursday, May 29, that a show-cause notice had been sent to the JDS leader, giving him 10 days to respond.
On May 7, Interpol issued a Blue Corner notice, requesting member nations' police to gather information about the accused, his location, and/or activities related to a criminal investigation. The warrant against Prajwal Revanna, under which he has been arrested, was issued on May 18. Last week, on May 23, Deve Gowda wrote to his grandson, urging him to surrender. "At this juncture, I can do only one thing," Deve Gowda stated. In the video, Revanna claimed he would make a comeback on May 31. This sparked the filing of three separate cases. One was lodged on April 28 in Hassan, where a 47-year-old former housekeeper accused him of sexual misconduct and exploitation. The authorities apprehended HD Revanna as the main suspect, and the woman's additional statement led to the addition of rape charges against Prajwal Revanna. On May 1, the police filed a second complaint, wherein a 44-year-old woman, who may be affiliated with the JDS party, alleged that Prajwal Revanna had raped her on multiple occasions, including at least one instance at gunpoint. A third complaint, filed on May 3, accused Prajwal Revanna of rape by a 60-year-old woman. Prajwal Revanna has refuted all allegations against him, asserting that it is a conspiracy orchestrated by his political rivals.
